I have a question. It's been several years since I really researched seizure info, although I'm kinda back at it and am finding there's a lot more info out there now. Some that helps and some that confuses.....

A question about something I'm confused about.....a long time ago, I picked up advice from here about how to raise progesterone levels for people who have catamenial epilepsy. The most obvious was the progesterrone-only bcpill, which I went on and it helped (but not on it now). Another way was to eat peanuts. I used to eat peanuts and/or cook with peanut oil. I guess I used to cook with peanut oil. But within the last months, I developed a taste for peanuts, which I thought was due to my salt craving (another issue altogether due either to adrenal insufficiency or my new diagnosis of dysautonomia). Anyway, there are times when I eat peanuts like crazy. However, a few times I have noticed that my seizure threshold is unnaturally low, like last night (awful!).

When I tried researching the peanut angle, I was coming up with sites that claimed that peanuts themselves also had pro-estrogen effects.....?! Anybody know anything about this? Today my period is going to start, so usually I'm in the clear, but it would make sense that eating something with even a mild pro-estrogen effect could put me back into the danger zone right now.

Thanks!

Foods high in phytoestrogens may affect human estrogen levels.

However phytoestrogens are much much weaker than animal estrogens.

Here is an article discussing them:
http://www.cspinet.org/nah/soy/phytoestrogen.html

Typically soybeans are a bigger offender.

Excess salt however, I think does affect the body and brain.
This is called hypernatremia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypernatremia

Hi Friedbrain,

I have found that eating almonds or peanuts will help lower my sz. level because there's progesterone in the almonds and peanuts and the progesterone helps calm the nervous system which can reduce sz.for people. Estrogen will cause more excitment in the brain which can trigger sz. and right before my periods I would always have sz. until I started to eat peanuts or almonds. This helped to stop tbe cateminal sz. I used to have but now I don't have to worry about that anymore since I've gone through my change.
Just like you I tried the pill but it didn't work that well for me. One thing that did help and you can get it in Natural Food stores in Natural Progesterone cream it's made from wild yams and peanuts and you just put it on your skin on your arms and legs and it will increase the progesterone level and reduce a persons sz. I used it for awhile and it helped me out.
Just make sure that if you eat peanuts that you don't eat to many or you will be headed for the restroom a few times because the peanuts will clean your system out. Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

Almonds are very high in magnesium...and this may help prevent seizures in some patients.

270mg/ 3oz. Avoid SALTED nuts... and only eat unsalted ones!

Unfortunately, my health is currently a new mystery that has been labeled dysautonomia. I think that's probably accurate, and my hypothesis is that it may possibly even be related to the source of my seizures, but anyway..... the cardio who slapped the label on me told me I needed to salt LOAD. As in even eat salt tablets daily. I kind of tried it one day-salty broth and peanuts-and felt absolutely AWFUL that night. Right on the threshold of seizures during the night. Scared the heck out of me and I haven't tried it since because my dh isn't here right now to wake up if something's wrong(er).

So I don't know what's going on-maybe the salt, maybe an estrogen-like effect (even minor, maybe if it's at the wrong time, could be bad? That's still confusing to me).

But thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with me!

Dysautonomia is not common. It is diagnosed by measuring BP changes lying down vs standing up. There is often a tachycardia also present when upright.

Salt IS used for it, but there are other treatments too.
Mestinon is sometimes used, and Florinef... these control better than salt, as a rule.

Excess salt raises blood pressure and for a person without Dysautonomia, it very destructive to the blood vessels.

Telling a person to raise their salt level is risky because you as a patient cannot monitor how much salt to take!

Look up this diagnosis: POTS... on Google. There is alot about that there.

Hi Friedbrain,

I don't know what AED's (anti seizure meds) you are taking but that might be the one problem that is causing you to have low blood pressure. I know that when I was taking neurontin my blood pressure was so low that often I would get dizzy and my Dr. ordered me to take in more salty foods but that didn't help me at all. I had a upset stomach for days and I finally went to see a gastro specialist and I found out that the AED I was taking was eating up my intestines and causing all the problems along with low blood pressure. I was told to eat foods low in fat, no coffee or anything with dairy products in it. and to drink caffeine free ginger ale and tea along with chicken noodle soup. This helped me a lot and now I'm doing much better and my blood pressure is back to normal. I wish you the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue